Editorial & Literary Services

Editorial and literary assistance is available for municipalities, companies, non-profits and individuals who wish to develop public and personal histories, books, reports, presentations or articles. If you would like to preserve historic documents that are important to you and your family, I can assist you in a variety of preservation techniques. Click on the topic to follow the link. I offer:

Project Time Guidelines
(writing time estimates,
assuming research at hand)

eBooks:
4-6 days

Book Proposal:
2 days

Web Site Design:
4-6 days

Multimedia DVD/CD:
7-10 days

4-page brochure:
1-2 days

8-page newsletter:
2-4 days

Technical article
(700-words):
4 hours

Feature article
(2,000 words):
1 to 2 days

 

1-page PR release:
2 hours

Substantive editing:
500 words per hour

Copyediting:
1,000 words per hour

Light copyediting:
1,250 words per hour

Proofreading:
2,000 words per hour

A Note About Literary Representation
Our editorial consultants read every query and I welcome your interest, but I do not offer literary representation and am not a literary agent. If you're interested in my editorial assistance, please take a look at my offered services. If you don't see what you need, drop me a line and see if I'm able to assist anyway. I enjoy the challenge of new and interesting projects.
Anniversaries (Return to Top)
Observing an anniversary is an opportunity for individuals, corporations and even municipalities to preserve the history of their identity, culture, values and successes. If you have an important date to commemorate, I can help.
Art Design (Return to Top)
Need an artist to create an illustration, a graphic design or logo? I have access to a variety of talented artists in many mediums. This service is $50 per hour. If you need to add graphics to your book, I can scan slides, negatives and photos (11"x14"), and perform minor editing and photo retouching/restoration. The cost is $10/image. The minimum cost is $20 for one image saved on a CD-ROM disc.
Book Development (Return to Top)
New publishing technology has made it easier and less expensive for those who want to publish their own books. I can help you with book development and selection of printers and other suppliers. This service is $25 per hour.
Copy Editing (Return to Top)
A copy editor adds a professional polish to written work and prepares it for publication. Copy editing can comprise small or large jobs, for example: business editing: editing press releases, business reports, letters and memos, manuals, and other examples of business writing. I also offer copy editing for the publisher (editing and proofreading text books, user manuals, technical manuals, and novels). For the academic writer, I edit dissertations, proofread theses, and edit student term papers or scholarly papers for academic journals. I can use Associated Press or Chicago Manual of Style when editing, or the style guide of your choice. This service is $25 per hour.
Consultation (Return to Top)
Are you a freelance writer who needs help but still wants to maintain artistic and editorial control? I can help as a consultant in the development of the work in its entirety, from the beginning to the final edit. This service is $25 per hour.
Digital Photo Albums (Return to Top)
Do you have fragile photographs that you would like to share with others? One way is to create a digital photo album that contains both high and low resolution images. Combined with information about the photo (a cutline), the digital photo album is a technological keepsake that also can be printed. This is a unique and inexpensive way to share your family or company's heritage with others. The original digital photo album can be duplicated and shared with others for less than $2 each. This service is $25 per hour for scanned photos (negatives and slides). The minimum cost is $25 for one image saved on a DVD/CD-ROM disc.
eBooks (Return to Top)
There's no denying that eBooks (often called digital Web books) are a tremendous tool for marketing your creative work or business. During the past few years, eBooks have become more economical and handy. It's wonderful for business brochures, magazines and catalogs, family photo albums, or illustrated books. Consider self-publishing your book for sale on the Internet or on a CD (or DVD). If you're a writer looking for an agent or a publisher, imagine your savings by putting your illustrated manuscript query on a CD. The cost of duplicating and mailing your query is less than $3 each. Compare that with the expense of duplicating and mailing large manuscripts.
Editing (Return to Top)
Need help cleaning up your copy? Are you tired of reading and rereading your manuscript? Are your grammar and punctuation skills inadequate? I offer a professional, comprehensive edit for style, structure, development, grammar and mechanics. The editor ensures correctness, consistency, and completeness. By removing errors, rewriting instances of nonstandard usage in wording or style,and improving overall clarity, the editor helps the writer to connect with the intended audience. I can use Associated Press or Chicago Manual of Style when editing, or the style guide of your choice. This service is $25 per hour.
Enhanced CD/DVD (Return to Top)
Musicians love the enhanced DVDs and CDs I create and use it instead of expensive press kits and music CDs. Follow this link to learn more about the enhanced Musician's Multimedia Press Kit >>>
The enhanced DVD/CD also is available for the author. The DVD/CD becomes an electronic book jacket, and replaces a standard press kit (that can average $20 each) for about $1 each. Filled with your book's synopsis (chapters or even the entire manuscript, if you wish), photos, biographical information, audio files, and even a video, the multimedia DVD/CD just makes sense. Not only does it serve the media -- newspaper editors, radio jockeys and TV hosts -- but it helps sell books to book reps, book sellers and the public. This service is $400. Follow this link to learn more about the enhanced Multimedia Press Kit CD >>>
Family Histories (Return to Top)
I enjoy working one-on-one with people researching and writing their family's history, and help them create photographic albums in either print or digital format. This service is $25 per hour for scanned photos (negatives and slides). The minimum cost is $25 for one image saved on a CD-ROM disc.
Ghostwriting (Return to Top)
Depending upon the project, my staff of writers and editors can assist you in creating a book as either a ghostwriter or co-author. If you have an idea for a book but not the desire, ability or opportunity to write it, consider my ghostwriting service. Co-authoring enables you to write a book with one or more other authors. Unlike ghostwriters, co-authors receive a byline when the book is published, however both work by the hour and not on a royalty basis. Both services are $50 per hour.
Grant Writing (Return to Top)
All too often, the grants are set aside because of the time-consuming effort involved in researching and writing a grant proposal. A successful grant proposal requires much research in order to match a worthy program and an interested grantor. Time is costly when applying for grants, so be sure you're applying for the right grant from the right foundation or corporation. This service is $35 per hour.
Historic Research (Return to Top)
Need a history detective? I understand and know how to analyze chronological relationships and patterns. With this historical perspective I am able to evaluate the credibility and authenticity of historical sources. This service is $25 per hour.
Memoirs (Return to Top)
Want to write a book, maybe pen your memoirs for future generations? I specialize in historic research and can help you quickly achieve your goal. This service is $25 per hour. I can scan slides, negatives and photos (11"x14"), and perform minor editing and photo retouching/restoration. The cost is $10/image. The minimum cost is $20 for one image saved on a CD-ROM disc.
Oral History Projects (Return to Top)
An oral history project is a method of gathering and preserving historical information through recorded interviews with participants in past events and ways of life. People ask for oral histories for a variety of purposes: To create archival records, for individual research, for community and institutional projects, and for publications and media productions. This service is $25 per hour.
Proposal Development (Return to Top)
A proposal is a sales tool that represents your book to agents, editors and publishers. After your reviewing your book proposal, I may be able to suggest elements to improve it, and I will copyedit it for grammar, spelling and punctuation. This service is $25 per hour.
Proposal Hosting (Return to Top)
Need advice and help on promoting your book? I can create a unique Web page devoted to you, your query and chapters from your book and host it on my Author Center. As you contact various literary agents and book publishers via e-mail or first-class mail, you may direct them to your site, saving you the cost of manuscript photocopying and postage. This service is $100 for one year. Follow this link to learn more about this service >>>
If you would like a unique Web site, including domain name and Web hosting, I can provide this service, also. Follow this link to learn more about this service >>>
Publicity & Marketing (Return to Top)
Need to communicate with the masses but don't know how? I can help put you in touch with newspapers, radio, television and online media. Want someone to design a brochure or press kit? I've worked with the media for 20+ years, so I know what they require. This service is $25 per hour. Follow this link to learn more about this service >>>
Research Assistance (Return to Top)
Don't have the time or resources to perform adequate research? Editorial research assistants can find the correct info you need in a timely manner. I'm an expert in research from prehistory and Native Americans to current topics. My college degrees are in communication, anthropology and archaeology. This service is $25 per hour
Web Site Design (Return to Top)
Are you ready to join the millions of others on the Internet? I can help you with Web page design and advice on Web hosts. I also offer my services for maintenance of your site. Prompt and reliable service is my forte. Follow this link to learn more about this service >>>
Misc. Services (Return to Top)
CD-ROM Archive: $25
I can create a CD-ROM copy of the text of your book in RTF and Microsoft Word format. This archive is then sent to you via the US Postal service.

Data Entry Service: $2/page
If you don't have a word processing file for your manuscript, I can create one for you. I'll keyboard your manuscript, using whatever you have.

US Copyright Office Registration: $75
To ensure the complete protection of your book under US Copyright law, I can help you register your book with the United States Copyright Office. Once registered, your book's copyright is protected for your lifetime plus 50 years. All you need to do is supply me with the required copies of your book and assist me with the paperwork necessary to guarantee your book's complete protection under the law.

CONTACT

Robin Van Auken
600 E. Mountain Ave.
S. Williamsport, PA 17702
(570) 326-7872 (Office)
(570) 916-0026 (Cell)
www.TheOmnibus.org
www.RobinVanAuken.com
RobinVanAuken@gmail.com

© 2008 Robin Van Auken